[Mighty T.A.L.]

Liverpool close in on Gillett

Liverpool have held further talks with the American tycoon George Gillett Jnr about a takeover of the club.

Chairman David Moores joined chief executive Rick Parry on last week's trip to Canada, where the reclusive businessman owns the Montreal Canadiens hockey team.

Moores was spotted in Gillett's suite during the Canadiens' victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. Liverpool declined to comment on the visit but it seems Gillett may now be ahead of Dubai Holdings in the long-running search for new investment.

The former owner of the Harlem Globetrotters has declined to comment, but sources close to him have privately confirmed that he is a serious bidder.

It remains unclear how the multimillionaire would fund a full takeover of the club, with Moores having stuck to a valuation of about £300 million during the three-year hunt for new investors.

Moores and Parry are thought to favour a cash injection for a minority stake, with backing for a new 60,000-seater stadium, but Gillett's style is to buy businesses outright.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk